Display container



June 23, 1959 G. B. BENANDER 2,891,663

DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed March I4. 1957 United States Patent DISPLAYCONTAINER George B. Benander, Oaklawn, R.I.,.assignor to GeneralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 14, 1957,Serial No. 646,105

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-56) This invention refers to a container suitable forprotecting articles during shipment and for display of such articlesupon store counters; more particularly, the invention refers to aperforated cardboard sleeve or container useful for shipping a pluralityof articles packed therein which articles may be readily separated fromeach other at the location of sale.

The proper packaging of articles is a very important phase of mostdistribution systems. Packages not only serve to protect their contentswhile in transit but also to identify the manufacturer, set forthdirections for use, and in some cases provide for counter display of thecontents. Packaging is considered so important that in many cases asignificant part of the retail selling price is represented by the costof packaging. For this reason, a low cost package or container whichserves adequately for protection during transit and otherwise fulfillsthe requirements of a satisfactory package is of considerable commercialimportance.

This invention has as one of its objects to provide a display containerin which the contained article is rigidly positioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container in which aplurality of readily detachable articles may be shipped under conditionsof maximum space utilization.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container for aplurality of articles wherein the container may be separated intosections by means of perforated rings at spaced intervals.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container havingapertures through which tabs may be projected to maintain an articlewithin the container in spaced relation with respect to the container.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of thefollowing specification considered in conjunction with the annexeddrawing wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a single containersleeve comprising a plurality of readily detachable smaller containers.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cardboard blank illustrating positioningslots, perforation lines, and fold lines.

Fig. 3 is a view looking through the open sides of a containerillustrating the manner in which tabs project through the positioningslots of the container.

Fig. 4 is a partially sectional view through one of the slottedcontainer faces showing how the slots may have sections of reduced widthin order to lock in place tabs serving as washers.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one of its aspects, the invention isdirected to a display container comprising a sheet of cardboard foldedto provide four sides defining a rectangular enclosure with two opensides, and a pair of slots through the cardboard on each of two oppositesides of the enclosure, the slots being adapted to seat tabs thereinwhereby an article attached to the tabs may be positioned within theenclosure.

While the invention is directed in part to a container for a singlearticle, it is especially advantageous when applied to a container for aplurality of articles, as shown in Fig. 1. The reason for this is thatin a single long sleeve comprising a plurality of container units, theindividual units provide support for each other through the separatingperforation lines wherein the perforations are spaced so as to providethe maximum support commensurate with easy separation of the individualcontainer units.

The multiple-unit container sleeve is made from a single sheet ofcardboard 10 (Fig. 2) having a plurality of spaced perforation lines 11defining the limits of the individual container units, punched retainingor positioning apertures 12, which may be of the 2-hole variety joinedby a slit, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, or may be slots of uniformwidth or other configurations suited to the particular article packaged,and fold lines 13, 14, 15, and 16. Folding the blank 10 of Fig. 2 alongthe fold lines 13-16 produces the container sleeve illustrated in Fig. 1having sides 17, 18, 19, and 20. It should be noted that the portion ofthe blank forming the side 20 is provided with sufficient overlap toprovide for gluing or other fastening.

It is necessary that the article packed in the container of thisinvention be equipped with a plurality of mounting tabs 22, as bestillustrated by the wall switch 23 of Figs. 1 and 3. In wall switchesthese tabs are normally scored for easy removal and use as washers. Insome cases it is necessary to provide the article shipped with mountingtabs scored for easy removal even though the tabs are of no use afterremoval. Where the tabs are in the form of washers, as illustrated, thepositioning or retainer slots 12 may be made as best shown in Fig. 4 bypunching two circular apertures and cutting a slit therebetween.Insertion of the tabs 22 then spreads the slit apart but the cardboardsprings back together at the washer center aperture to form a secureanchorage for the tab 22.

In utilizing this invention, the article to be packaged has its tabs 22projected through the retainers 12 while the cardboard is in theunfolded position illustrated in Fig. 2. The folding operation thenanchors the opposite set of tabs 22 in the opposite set of retainerslots 12 and the overlap of the side 20 is fastened as by gluing. Anumber of such multiple-unit container sleeves may then be mounted in ashipping carton and subjected to rough handling during transit withoutproducing any damage to the packaged articles. Upon receipt of thecarton, the dealer can readily detach one of the container units bytearing along the perforated lines 11 and, since the enclosure is openon two sides, the contents can be arranged for display without removalfrom the container. Thus, the article can be examined by the utimateconsumer without removing it from its protective container and thecontainer continues to protect its contents until the ultimate consumeris ready to place it in use.

While the invention has been described with reference to certainspecific embodiments thereof, it is obvious that there may be variationswhich still are within the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the invention is limited only as may be necessitatedby the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A display container comprising a sheet of cardboard folded to providefour sides defining a rectangular enclosure with two open sides, and apair of slots through said cardboard perpendicular to the fold lines oneach of two opposite sides of said enclosure, said slots consisting of aslit terminating at each end in a circular punched section, the saidcircular sections being adapted to seat a punched tab and the said slitserving to lock in place the punched section of the tab whereby anarticle attached to said tabs may be positioned within said enclosure.

2. A display container for positioning and protecting a plurality ofarticles comprising a sheet of cardboard folded to provide four sidesdefining an elongated enclosure, a plurality of perforation linesthrough said cardboard ringing said enclosure at spaced intervals, saidperforation lines dividing said enclosure into a plurality of smallerenclosures separable along said perforation lines, and a pair oftab-positioning slots through said cardboard perpendicular to the foldlines on each of two opposite sides of each of said smaller enclosures,said tab-positioning slots consisting of a slit terminating at each endin a circular punched section, the said slots being adapted for havingprojecting therethrough tabs for 4 positioning articles within saidsmaller enclosures, the slit portion of said slots springing closedafter insertion of a tab to lock said tab in position.

3. A display container, as claimed in claim 2, wherein thetab-positioning slots are disposed in register on the said two oppositesides of said smaller enclosures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,509,123 Binder Sept. 23, 1924 1,698,072 Russell Jan. 8, 1929 2,205,437Ringler June 25, 1940 2,557,970 Jablon June 26, 1951 2,603,923 ChidseyJuly 22, 1952 2,765,073 Murray Oct. 2, 1956

